“May we start this afternoon?” Dan demanded eagerly.
“The woods are rather wet, don’t you think?”
“We could put on slickers and boots. Anyway, the sun’s out again. The ground will dry some before afternoon.”
“All right,” Mr. Hatfield consented. “If it doesn’t rain any more, find another Cub and go out there at four o’clock. I’ll send someone to relieve you by six.”
“Oh, thanks, Mr. Hatfield!”
“You may not thank me by the time your stint is finished,” the Cub leader laughed as he shifted gears. “It will be a tedious grind, and probably a fruitless one. Oh, yes, one thing! Keep out of sight, and be careful about leaving a lot of tracks.”
“We’ll defeat our purpose if anyone learns we’re watching the road.”
“Right. Well, good luck, Dan. I don’t look for anything to develop today, but starting the patrol will keep the Cubs out of mischief at least.”
Elated at the prospect of action, Dan immediately busied himself on the telephone. First he called Brad, but the Den Chief was helping his father with work about the house and could not make the trip to the woodland.
“I’ll take my stint tomorrow,” Brad promised.